Ratings Update: Sceau far, so good

Friday

The Young Master (up to 153 from 151x) took advantage of a still-favourable mark in the opening race of the meeting, helped by an enterprising ride but likely to have won even if all those that departed two out had completed. He holds a Ladbrokes Trophy entry, while the Becher is also a feasible next port of call (for all that he’s not looked a natural so far over the National fences).

Later on the card, Bun Doran (up 6 lb to 146) produced a career-best display, pulling away from a pair of in-form rivals, while Count Meribel (up 7 lb to 147p) survived a scare at the second-last to get the better of Le Breuil (now 144p from 131P), Mr Whipped (138p) and Jenkins (143) close home in a somewhat-muddling novices’ chase.

Count Meribel and his rider @MarkGrantRacing defy gravity at the penultimate fence to win the Novices' Chase @CheltenhamRaces

Which of these Novice Chasers impressed you most? pic.twitter.com/ZSYqGR7mj9

— Racing UK (@racing_uk) November 16, 2018

The winner has clearly taken well to fences, getting the better of some superior hurdlers, and though he probably doesn't have quite the potential of a couple of the others, he is likely to improve further. White Moon (139p), who'd reportedly had a breathing operation, may well have won but for falling at the last when his jockey elected to go between runners.

There was a fourth win at the course for cross-country specialist Josies Orders (145+), who saw off two lightly-weighted rivals when defying a mark fully 15 lb higher than when landing the 2015 renewal of this race, with Grand National hero Tiger Roll (155) making a satisfactory return (should be sharper for the run) back in fourth.

Paddy Brennan’s wide route paid dividends in the Grade 2 novices’ hurdle, with Coolanly (131) not needing to improve to see off Pym (127 from 125p), who travelled well and held every chance at the last. The winner was seen to maximum advantage due to the tactics employed, but has an obvious target in the Challow Hurdle.

Saturday

The first graded juvenile of the winter may not work out as strongly as it might look at first glance, the proximity of the fifth a concern, though he may well have been advantaged by being taken widest of all. Winner Quel Destin (137) has a willing attitude, which is likely to continue to stand him in good stead, though more is needed if he’s to make an impact in the Triumph itself in the spring.

Good start for Harry Cobden as Quel Destin, the first of 7 good rides for the jockey today, lands the JCB Triumph Trial #TheNovemberMeeting

Results  👉👉 https://t.co/7iJOPsdIyZ pic.twitter.com/Fduoc2BCQx

— Racing UK (@racing_uk) November 17, 2018

The similarly-experienced Cracker Factory (loses ‘p’, now 134) has the physique to think that he can continue to develop, while the very easy-to-back Never Adapt (now 126p) will need some expert channelling to maximise her potential. She pulled her way into clear lead, and looked set to drop away after being headed three out, but kept on again on the run-in to snatch third; she won't be the easiest to place, but the potential for better is clearly there.

Ibis du Rheu (up from 134+ to 143) showed improved form to get off the mark over fences, embarking on a third season in this discipline, picking up the well-ridden Theatre Territory (135) late on. The pair that had won their previous starts – The Worlds End (145+) and Minella Awards (143) - failed to deliver faced with sterner opposition, though both may fare better when not faced with the Cheltenham hill.

The handicaps dominated the card, though, with former Gold Cup winner Coneygree (now 159+) shaping well when third to Rock The Kasbah (up 4 lb to 152) in the staying chase. The latter has done it in fits and starts rather than smoothly, but his general trajectory as a chaser is both clear and positive. Without knowing whether it was by design or necessity, he had his races handpicked in 2017/18, long breaks between them, but the Ladbrokes Trophy must be tempting on the back of such a polished (and improved) performance.

Hold-up horses were disadvantaged once more in the BetVictor Gold Cup, with 1-2 Baron Alco (up 4 lb to 152) and Frodon (now 163) dominating a truly-run race which was marred by a number of fallers and subsequent pile-ups; only six finished.

A brilliant front-running performance from Baron Alco seals the BetVictor Gold Cup for the Moore family #TheNovemberMeeting

Results  👉👉 https://t.co/7iJOPsdIyZ pic.twitter.com/aW2eMJAJGj

— Racing UK (@racing_uk) November 17, 2018

The winner’s heart-on-his-sleeve attacking style is so often well rewarded on this track, and his fine jumping drew plenty of errors from his rivals; he's likely to contest the Caspian Caviar at the next meeting here, and will probably face the runner-up again, another who should continue to acquit himself well. Guitar Pete (138) got going too late to land a blow on the first two, while Mister Whitaker (153) came from a long way back.

Elsewhere on the card, First Assignment (up 10 b to 137p) overcame a stop-start gallop to prove himself a well handicapped horse; he's going to make some chaser, once he's finished his ongoing rapid rise up the hurdles ladder, which could include a trip to Haydock this weekend. Stablemate Speedo Boy (up 5 lb to 126p) improved in 2018 to a Timeform rating of 108 on the Flat, effectively putting him ahead of the game for his hurdling return (tongue tied first time); his profile will mark him out in higher-value handicaps, though the ground may be influential to him really playing up his Flat ability.

Over in Ireland, Voix du Reve (up 2 lb to 147p) made all in a smart renewal of the Craddockstown Novices’ Chase. The winner has taken really well to chasing, now two from two after another attacking display, not always foot perfect but still strong at the finish; the Grade 1 novice at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting is an obvious target, and he won’t be one to dismiss lightly wherever he goes next.

Elsewhere on the card, the front-running Stormy Ireland (137) comfortably saw off several rivals not at their very best. She had her limitations exposed at the very highest level last season, and connections have suggested she's likely to be limited to races against her own sex this term.

Sunday

With Samcro and Supasundae absent, the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle was one of the weaker renewals in recent years, and it proved a disappointment for spectators at Punchestown too, with 5/2-on favourite Faugheen (165) well beaten by stablemate Sharjah (154). A step back up in trip is surely now on the agenda for Faugheen, while the winner – who is half his age of the runner-up – will need to find another 7 lb or so to become a genuine Champion Hurdle contender, generally a 33/1 shot for that race.

Some Neck (up 8 lb to 144) provided Willie Mullins with another winner, this time in the Florida Pearl Novices’ Chase, but it didn’t look likely four out where he was flat to the boards. He came home best of all, though, getting up in the final stride to pick up Blow By Blow (up from 139p to 144), in turn denying Gordon Elliott a third successive win in the race.

At Cheltenham, Lalor (152p) produced one of the performances of the jumps season so far, running to a high level at the first time of asking over fences, seeing off a pair who had already made highly promising starts in this sphere in most convincing fashion and stamping himself a strong contender for Arkle glory come March.

Runner-up Dynamite Dollars (142p) was no match for the winner but ran perfectly well, his trainer sure to maximise his potential, while Claimantakinforgan (down 4 lb to 141p) failed to progress as expected from his chasing debut, done for speed by a potentially top-notch two-miler; he remains likely to do better over fences and will win more races, though possibly below the very highest level.

Altior's absence in the Shloer Chase gave other potential main players on the two-mile scene a chance to shine, though only Sceau Royal (now 160p) did so, a falsely-run race grossly underselling his superiority over the well-ridden veteran Simply Ned (up 2 lb to 159), who was almost certainly laid out for this having been a fixture in the frame in it over the years.

Sceau Royal shrugs off a ten-month absence and penalty to land the Shloer Chase @CheltenhamRaces from the valiant Simply Ned. Has the winner got what it takes to emulate Sprinter Sacre, who won the race in 2015 en route to Champion Chase glory? #TheNovemberMeeting pic.twitter.com/rVRJuE1xIh

— Racing UK (@racing_uk) November 18, 2018

Sceau Royal has now teed himself up for a season centred around a bid at the Champion Chase back here in March, for which he'd be a major player without one so exceptional as Altior; he'll take plenty of beating wherever he goes this side of the Festival.

This meeting has often been influenced by the effects of rain, but it was low sun that had the biggest impact on the Greatwood and the following hurdle race on the card; that said, it's hard to quibble with the identity of any of those that made up the group of five that had got away by the end, comprising as they did a pair of improvers, a second-season hurdler, a past winner and a former Fred Winter third.

"Back home my local track was Downpatrick and I used to go there as a kid. I just fell in love with the sport" Danny McMenamin secures Greatwood Hurdle triumph on only his 19th ride under Rules >>> https://t.co/2BU7kb0OHf pic.twitter.com/B4axn7uyXG

— Racing UK (@racing_uk) November 18, 2018

Winner Nietzsche (up 10 lb to 128) confirmed the positives of a recent second on the Flat, recapturing the sort of form that had seen him just lose out in the Fred Winter here in 2017, a first-time tongue strap and good-value claimer both likely catalysts, though his turn of foot (still effective around 1½m on the level) counted for a good deal as well given how the race unfolded.

Runner-up Silver Streak (remains on 140) underlined his status as one of the most progressive two-milers around, shaping extremely well as he found only one too good in his bid for a famous major handicap hat-trick, coming from that bit further back than the winner. He may not get many more chances to run away from testing ground as the winter nears, speed-favouring conditions vital to him.

Further down the field, eventual eighth Nube Negra (131p) wasn't so eye-catching as in the Fred Winter here in the spring but still shaped better than the bare result, asked to make a lot of ground from rear into a quickening gallop.

Finally, Elixir de Nutz (up 12 lb to 130) showed improved form in the Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle to get off the mark over hurdles, clearly more mature this season compared to last; he may have more to offer, though his tasks will become more difficult and improvement is likely to be required. Itchy Feet (up 2 lb to 133) found the concession of 5 lb to the well-ridden winner beyond him, while Seddon (down 3 lb to 123p) appeared undone by a lack of experience in this sphere and a ride that didn't show him to best advantage; he remains open to improvement.